The Daily Mail says Grant is set to target former Portsmouth assistants Paul Groves and Ian Woan as part of a new backroom team, although first-team coach Kevin Keen is expected to stay on in some capacity.

There had been suggestions the Israeli would team up again with his former Chelsea No 2 Steve Clarke, who remained at West Ham after Gianfranco Zola left last month.

However, Clarke is understood to be close to agreeing a severance package on his £1.2million-a-year contract and won’t hang around for an opportunity to renew the partnership that took Chelsea to the Champions League final in 2008.